Antique Shakespeare fly rod

Question
QUESTION: I have an old Shakespeare bamboo fly rod. It's shaft is six sided as a hexagon and it is nine feet long. The rod has three sections with nine eyes, the first eye is red glass and the next eight are metal. The label on the shaft says Honor Built-Honor Sold and there is a inscribed serial number A-13627-9. Wondering what the rod is valued at, although I don't know if I would ever part with it. Would appreciate any information on this. Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi David,

The model 1362 was called the Springbrook by Shakespeare.  It came originally with two tip sections.  If you don't have the second tip the value will be considerably less.  According to A. J. Campbell's Classic & Antique Fly Fishing Tackle, and Michael Sinclair's Bamboo Rod restoration Handbook, early Shakespeare bamboo rods were probably produced by Montague (Ideal rods 1924-1926), the "B" models were produced by Heddon and Montague (1926-1934), and the later models were produced by South Bend, heddon and Monatgue (1935-WW II), after WW II only rods made by South Bend were offered by Shakespeare.  Thanks to the work of these gentlemen, we know a great deal more than we would trying to figure this out on our own.

The model 1362 appeared in the lineup in 1936 and was near the low end and sold for $6.60 when new...by 1942 this model had risen in price to $9.75 but it was still at the low end of the lineup.  I think that the "A" prefix on your model 1362 indicates it was built after WW II and that it was built by South Bend for Shakespeare.  This could be wrong, but the only place I see the prefix "A" is in post-WW II lists of Shakespeare rod models.  This would put your rod date of manufacture in the late 1940s to early 1950s time frame.  The red liner on the stripper guide is probably agatine (synthetic agate) rather than a real agate stone...it is not glass.

Shakespeare bamboo rods form this time period are generally considered entry level collector rods and are not highly valued, but they do have collector value.  The A-1362 in 9'0" with both tips and the original bag and tube (if it came with these) would be valued in the $100-$150 range depending on condition.  If your rod has only one tip, that value would drop to more like the $60-$80 range.  Realistically, due to the entry level quality of these rods, the sale price you might receive could be lower than the book values.

You may wish to keep the rod as is for the future, or you may wish to use the rod.  I don't think the collector value is going to skyrocket on these anytime soon so using it would be fine.  Make sure the wraps are good and the ferrules fit snug and the glue holding them to the shaft is still solid before using it.  Otherwise, it will probably be fun to fish with.

Thanks,  Joe

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:  I do have the original metal storage tube and the rod bag. After looking at the tag on the rod bag I discovered that the serial number is A-1362T rather than A-13627 as originally stated. I also have what I believe is the second rod tip however it's shaft is cracked below the second eye from the tip. Do you think I could use a weather proof glue to repair the shaft? Thanks, David.

Answer
Hi David,

Thanks for the additional information.  The A-1352T is definitely a post war (WW II) rod built by South Bend.  It sold new for $18.25 according to my reference book.

You can probably find a local rod builder who can repair the cracked tip section...depending on how badly it is cracked.  It likely needs more than just glue to make an effective repair.  With the bag and tube and the repaired tip section, the rod would probably fall in the $80-$100 range for value.

There are quite a few of these rods still around.  You might be able to find one with problems, but with at least one good tip section that you can buy fairly inexpensively.  A replacement tip section would basically restore the rod to a complete unit again.

Thanks,  Joe